NONFICTION - The Heart: Our Circulatory System

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Simon, Seymour. 1996. THE HEART: OUR CIRCULATORY SYSTEM. New York: Harper Collins Publishers. ISBN 0060877219

PLOT SUMMARY
In what could best be described as a nonfiction picture book, Seymour Simon explores many aspects of the human heart and its amazing function within the body. Parts of the heart such as the atrium, ventricle, aorta, vena cava, valves, and septum are identified through several simple and well labeled diagrams. The heart’s capacity as an incredibly powerful pump is depicted in various computer-enhanced photographs of blood cells moving through arteries and veins, In an accurate and straightforward fashion, the book goes on to outline the role of the heart in the circulatory system, the respiratory system, and the immune system. The text also explores several types of heart problems such as blockage, angina, strokes, and irregular heartbeats. The book concludes with descriptions of coronary bypass surgery and angioplasty as treatments for some heart disease. The book’s fascinating comparisons grab and hold the attention of even the most reluctant reader.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Simon’s use of vivid comparisons to help the reader understand the magnitude of the heart and its functions is the hallmark of this informational book. An example of this trademark characteristic occurs when Simon communicates, “We each have about twenty-five trillion red blood cells, hundreds of times more blood cells than there are stars in the Milky Way galaxy.” Other descriptive comparisons include the heart weighing about as much as one sneaker, capillaries being thinner than human hairs, and the body containing enough blood vessels to stretch around the earth two and half times. These fascinating relationships grab and hold the attention of even the most reluctant reader. In addition to Simon’s unique style, the use of scanning electron microscopes and computer colored micrographs allow for a visual revelry including close-ups of donut shaped blood cells, a sea of capillaries, and the web-like pattern of clotting blood.

Although very accurate, the book may occasionally miss the mark of its intended 3rd to 5th grade reading audience on some accounts. While the book is often informative and engaging, at points it drifts into some concepts that are perhaps too complex for young readers. For example, when studying the immune system, not even high school biology students venture into the realms of neutrophils, lymphocytes, and monocytes. The book might also benefit from a more organized structure such as titles for each page or section. Often, there are not clear transitions from one topic to the next. Titles would help guide the reader through the text.

A brief glossary and an index round out this nonfiction text on the heart.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* ALA Booklist starred review - 1996
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “Simon approaches the human heart as he approached outer space and oceans: as an adventure to be explored. As always, the full-page, full-color photographs are spectacular, and the text is crisp and full of detail. In a conversational yet instructive style, the author presents young readers with fascinating information that will almost certainly spur them on to read more.”
* BOOKLIST REVIEW: “The text is succinct and direct, making the details understandable without losing the sense that the whole process of circulation is "strange and wonderful." Handsome and well-conceived in every way, this book provides an excellent introduction to its subject.”
* KIRKUS REVIEWS: “Stunning full-color photos appear on every page, many taken inside the human body with scanners, X-rays, and other devices, and then computer-enhanced. The same science savvy and enthusiasm that has made Simon's titles on the universe so popular has been turned inward to uncover extraordinary facts about the human body.”

CONNECTIONS
* Have students measure their heart rates at rest and after play or exercise. Record this data in different ways using several types of charts and graphs. Discuss what other things can make a person’s heart rate change.
* Read Simon’s various other books about the human body. Then, create life size drawings of the body by lying on 6 foot long pieces of art paper. Using what has been learned, draw and label all the body’s parts and various systems.
* Learn even more about the amazing human body with Seymour Simon:
1) Simon, Seymour. THE BRAIN: OUR NERVOUS SYSTEM. ISBN 0688170609
2) Simon, Seymour. BONES: OUR SKELETAL SYSTEM. ISBN 0688177212
3) Simon, Seymour. GUTS: OUR DIGESTIVE SYSTEM. ISBN 0060546514
4) Simon, Seymour. MUSCLES: OUR MUSCULAR SYSTEM. ISBN 0688177204
5) Simon, Seymour. EYES AND EARS. ISBN 0060733020

NONFICTION - Leonardo Da Vinci

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Stanley, Diane. 1996. LEONARDO DA VINCI. New York: Morrow Junior Books. ISBN 0688104371

PLOT SUMMARY
Stanley’s biography, Leonardo Da Vinci, provides a short yet informative chronological accounting of the renowned artist and scientist’s life. The story takes the reader on a journey through Renaissance Italy in the 15th and 16th centuries, following the tragedies and triumphs of Da Vinci’s career. From his purported illegitimate birth to his final three years as an advisor to the King of France, Da Vinci’s life is revealed in a series of short vignette-like stories of his various undertakings, both artistic and scholarly. The reader learns of Da Vinci’s uncommon childhood, his apprenticeship in the painter’s guild, his little known musical abilities, his multitude of scientific experiments and observations, his famed notebooks, and his artistic endeavors. We learn of Da Vinci’s interactions with some of his famous contemporaries such Michelangelo, Verrocchio, Niccolo Machiavelli, Lorenzo de Medici, Duke Ludovico Sforza, and Francis I (King of France). The biographical aspects of the text are enhanced by reproductions from Da Vinci’s own notebooks and by Stanley’s full page drawings which portray the great Da Vinci in his day to day activities.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Accuracy is still the order of the day despite the engaging story-like quality of this biography. What makes the book particularly unique are the little known facts held within the pages. For example, it is revealed that Da Vinci was a person who “began projects only to abandon them”, perhaps because he was bored or because he was interested in other things. Also, the world knows Da Vinci for his artistic masterpieces and his scientific inquiry, but few are aware of his keen sense of music. Da Vinci even designed musical instruments and gave Duke Ludovico Sforza a “bizarre silver lira in the shape of a horse’s skull”. The process of creating a painting from start to finish is painstakingly described, including the meticulous paper punch and black chalk transfer method. Stanley’s research is exceptional in its ability to provide tidbits of rare and interesting information about the original Renaissance Man. This unusual talent for engaging the reader in a biographical genre while also entertaining along the way is the mark of a true storyteller.

Da Vinci’s life unfolds on the pages in vibrant gouache, colored pencil, and watercolor paintings coupled with photo collages of some of the artist’s most famous works such as The Last Supper and The Mona Lisa. In addition, the sketches from Da Vinci’s notebooks add rich detail to the story. For example, as Stanley writes about Da Vinci’s scientific exploits concerning the human body, one is able to view two very detailed drawings of a skull and a torso. These drawings are from Da Vinci’s notebooks and depict a style of transparent drawing that he developed which is still used by medical artists today. The forward and postscript implemented by Stanley helped to frame the life of Da Vinci within its historical context. Further compliments to this vivid biography are a pronunciation guide, a bibliography, and a list of recommended reading for younger children.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Winner of the 1997 Orbis Pictus Award
* ALA Notable Book – 1996
* Boston-Globe Horn Book Honor Book for Nonfiction – 1997
* Publisher’s Weekly Best Book Award - 1996
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “The text is readable and interesting; the author is careful to distinguish between facts and surmises, and uses quotes from Leonardo's own writings to demonstrate his attitudes. The book's design is exemplary.”
* BOOKLIST REVIEW: “Well researched, intelligently written, and beautifully illustrated, this is the best of the many children's books on Leonardo.”
* PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: “Stanley produces her most stunning pictorial biography to date. Drawing from a range of sources, including her subject's extensive notebooks, Stanley's conversational narrative describes Leonardo Da Vinci's astoundingly far-reaching and varied achievements.”

CONNECTIONS
* Create a concept map being sure to include all of Da Vinci’s different talents.
* Study some of Da Vinci’s art. Identify elements of style that are specific to Da Vinci’s work. Try drawing a Da Vinci painting such as the Mona Lisa or The Last Supper using the paper punch & black chalk copy method described in the book.
* Learn about Da Vinci’s different scientific inventions. Build a model of one of his inventions based on his notebook sketches and writings.
* Talk about Da Vinci’s habit of not finishing things he started. Brainstorm why this may have happened. Talk about times you may not finish things. Is this a good thing or a bad thing?
* Other children’s biographies & activity books about Leonardo Da Vinci:
1) Byrd, Robert. LEONARDO, THE BEAUTIFUL DREAMER. ISBN 0525470336
2) Herbert, Janis. LEONARDO DA VINCI FOR KIDS: HIS LIFE AND IDEAS, 21 ACTIVITIES. ISBN 1556522983
3) O’Connor, Barbara. LEONARDO DA VINCI: RENAISSANCE GENIUS. ISBN 0876144679
4) Anderson, Maxine. AMAZING LEONARDO DA VINCI INVENTIONS YOU CAN BUILD YOURSELF. ISBN 0974934429
5) Edwards, Roberta. WHO WAS LEONARDO DA VINCI?. ISBN 0448443015

NONFICTION - Eleanor Roosevelt: A Life Of Discovery

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Freedman, Russell. 1993. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: A LIFE OF DISCOVERY. New York: Clarion Books. ISBN 0899198627

PLOT SUMMARY
From a privileged yet tragic childhood and an uncertain young adulthood, a fiercely independent and focused woman was born. Freedman’s photobiography reveals the facts behind the transformation of Eleanor Roosevelt. A truly remarkable journey is recounted as readers are led through each event that helped shape Eleanor Roosevelt into one of the most influential, yet modest women in American history. Piecing together historical facts and accounts, personal quotes, excerpts from the “My Day” column, Eleanor’s own biography, and recollections of friends and family, Freedman eloquently builds a chronological telling of Roosevelt’s life. The book is divided into various parts including Eleanor’s childhood, her education abroad, the early years as a newlywed with Franklin, her political endeavors, the years as the wife of a president, the war years, and her life after Franklin’s passing. Over 100 black and white photographs give the reader even more insight into Eleanor Roosevelt’s tenacious and prolific history.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The chronological order of the text makes for fluid reading. This fact, coupled with Freedman’s propensity to tell both the good and the bad gives this book a nicely balanced viewpoint. Freedman never shies away from even the most awkward of topics from Eleanor Roosevelt’s past, including FDR’s marital infidelity and Eleanor’s image as a nosy and prying busybody. The biography is greatly enhanced by Eleanor’s own words interspersed throughout. An example of this method is found when the author recounts the time after FDR’s death. During this time, Eleanor was seeking her place in the world and stated, “I did not want to cease trying to be useful in some way. I did not want to feel old.” Through her own words, Eleanor’s vulnerability and her desire to make a difference are revealed. The reader sees someone not unlike themselves in Eleanor Roosevelt. Freedman’s style of describing events through the actual words of others is quite effective. Aside from the text, the reader is afforded an insider’s view into Eleanor Roosevelt’s life through the many black and white photographs depicting Eleanor, her family, her friends, and her achievements. At least every other page is filled with images from the life of this pioneering and unpretentious First Lady. A fairly substantial index makes for ease of use in terms of reference. Freedman also includes an annotated bibliography of sorts in a concluding section filled with brief descriptions of other books by and about Eleanor Roosevelt.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* Newberry Honor Book - 1994
* ALA Notable Book – 1993
* Boston-Globe Horn Book Honor Book for Nonfiction – 1994
* YALSA Best Book for Young Adults - 1993
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “The sensitivity and frankness of this volume, as well as the extensive, supporting black-and-white photographs, mark this as a wide-ranging, honest appraisal of this admirable, courageous woman.”
* BOOKLIST REVIEW: “From the first page, the style of this admiring photobiography is as direct and unpretentious as its subject. . .This is a book to read across generations.”
* HORN BOOK REVIEW: “At last, children have a biography of Eleanor Roosevelt equal to its subject! Young readers will find inspiration, hope, and guidance in the life of this outstanding woman.”
* PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: “This impeccably researched, highly readable study of one of this country's greatest First Ladies is nonfiction at its best. As a role model for girls and an inspiration to both genders, Eleanor Roosevelt remains unsurpassed.”

CONNECTIONS
* After reading Eleanor Roosevelt’s biography, teach students how to write a bio-poem. Have them complete a bio-poem using what they know about Eleanor Roosevelt and her life.
* Create a timeline of important events in the life of Eleanor Roosevelt.
* Students will keep on ongoing journal based on the concept behind Eleanor Roosevelt’s “My Day” column.
* Brainstorm and discuss the contributions of other notable women in history.
* Other children’s book biographies of Eleanor Roosevelt:
1) Kulling, Monica. ELEANOR EVERYWHERE: THE LIFE OF ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. ISBN 067998996X
2) Thompson, Gare. WHO WAS ELEANOR ROOSEVELT?. ISBN 0448435098
3) Ellwood, Nancy. LEARNING ABOUT INTEGRITY FROM THE LIFE OF ELEANOR ROOSEVELT. ISBN 0823953459
4) Attebury, Nancy G. ELEANOR ROOSEVELT: FIRST LADY OF THE WORLD. ISBN 0756518563
5) Fleming, Candace. OUR ELEANOR: A SCRAPBOOK LOOK AT ELEANOR ROOSEVELT’S REMARKABLE LIFE. ISBN 0689865449

POETRY - Mammalabilia

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Florian, Douglas. 2000. MAMMALABILIA. New York: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0152050248

PLOT SUMMARY
In Mammalabilia, Douglas Florian presents a collection of twenty-one brief and humorous poems about animals, both common and exotic. In his exploration of this scientific class, Florian incorporates word play and wit involving mammal names, physical appearances, virtues, and vices, among other things. A variety of poems are included in the compilation such as quatrains, concrete poems, list poems, and a number of unique creations. The poetry is complimented by an equal number of gouache paintings rendered on primed brown paper bags.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
In this book, Florian proves to be a master with clever turns of phrase as is proven in his assertion that “The porcupine / has porcupins / that sprout out from / its porcuskin”. These sharp and amusing word plays pepper the volume. In addition, the repeated use of consonance lends a fun and quirky readability to many of the poems. An excellent example of double consonance at work can be seen in Florian’s poem portraying the beaver: “Wood-chopper / Tree-dropper / Tail-flopper / Stream-stopper”. The use of concrete poems which trace the shape of a camel’s back, a porcupine’s quills, and a lemur’s tail add a unique visual flair to the otherwise blocked text.

Aside from the entertaining verse, readers may also delight in the whimsical paintings which illustrate the book. Using brown paper bags as canvas, Florian’s creations come across as childlike and simplistic. However, the humor embedded in the illustrations help to enhance the wit in the poetry. For example, the beaver who is given the moniker, “stream-stopper”, is depicted sitting confidently atop his damn with a big, red, octagonal stop sign firmly planted in the river bed. The ibex are seen precariously perched on slivers of mountaintops, emphasizing their propensity to “risk their necks / on scary, airy mountain treks”. The bear slumbers away in hibernation with his alarm clock at his side which shows not hours and minutes, but instead, months of the year. Readers are sure to find as many surprises in Florian’s illustrations as they do in his clever verse.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* New York Times Book Review Best Illustrated Book of the Year
* Smithsonian Magazine Notable Book for Children
* Horn Book Fanfare Selection
* BOOKLIST REVIEW: “Florian continues his versified survey of the animal kingdom with 21 short, usually clever rhymes, each playing on a mammal's name or some physical characteristic. The paintings. . . . . show that Florian isn't just inventive with written language.”
* PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: “This collection of 21 short light verses brims with whimsy and fun. . . . .an irresistible homage to mammal memorabilia.”
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “The artist's renderings draw readers into the poem and invite repeated viewings after reading the verse. Florian has created a zoological garden of delights.”

CONNECTIONS
* Read and view concrete poems such as The Bactrian Camel and The Porcupine. Encourage students to discover why the poems are shaped the way they are. Have students write concrete poems using their favorite animal as a subject.
* Continue one of the poems in the collection by adding an original verse.
* As a science connection, students choose one of the mammals that is less well known such as the lemur, tapir, rhebok, ibex, or lynx. Complete basic research on each mammal including physical description, diet, habitat, defense mechanisms, unique characteristics, etc.
*Other Florian poetry creations about beasts, birds, and bugs:
1) Florian, Douglas. BEAST FEAST. ISBN 0152017372
2) Florian, Douglas. ZOO’S WHO. ISBN 0152046399
3) Florian, Douglas. ON THE WING. ISBN 0152004971
4) Florian, Douglas. INSECTOLOPEDIA. ISBN 0152013067

POETRY - Please Bury Me In The Library

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Lewis, J. Patrick. 2005. PLEASE BURY ME IN THE LIBRARY. Ill. by Kyle M. Stone. New York: Harcourt, Inc. ISBN 0152163875

PLOT SUMMARY
Using sixteen short poems as a medium, Lewis pays tribute to the imagery and power of the written word wrapped up inside the covers of books. An assortment of poetic styles are utilized including rhyming couplets, haiku, quatrains, and acrostic. Lewis’ subtle humor and word wit are woven throughout the book, contributing to its appeal to both young and old. The poems are richly and vividly illustrated by Kyle M. Stone. The visual playground created by Stone is an ideal addition to the volume due to its ability to portray the meaning behind Lewis’ poetic offerings.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
Lewis has a gift for painting a picture with words. An example is the image that is conjured when one reads about the capers of alphabet soup: “the fun-loving vowels / may want tiny towels / to dry themselves off on the spoon”. One can’t help but smile upon reading Lewis’ title offering and imagining the library where the “dictionary dozes” and the bibliophile wishes to be buried with “a dozen long-stemmed proses”. In addition to vivid imagery, the work also abounds with much humor, subtle though it may be. In one offering, Lewis bemoans a task at hand: “Difficult writing / Assignment: “The Story of / My Life: A Haiku””. Another dose of wit is administered when Lewis proclaims, “A bad book owes to many trees / a forest of apologies”. The entire volume’s intent is summed up perfectly when Lewis personifies a book and assigns her purpose, “To capture, to amuse, / To light a fire / (You’re the fuse)”. The majority of the poems have imaginative underlying cadences that lend themselves easily to being read aloud.

Stone’s illustrations go the distance in capturing the feeling created by Lewis’ words. This is evident from the first turn of the page which reveals the title leaf’s art: a small, redheaded girl snuggling contentedly under a warm and comforting blanket of books. The pictorial offerings range from quaint (as the title page illustrates) to absurd. The silliness plays out in such scenes as the little lamb clad in his lobster bib ready to spear a plate of very green eggs. The young boy perched atop a stack of books in Necessary Gardens captures the spirit of being entranced by a good read. The rich palette of colors chosen by the artist make the illustrations leap off the page. A few of the illustrations are stunningly realistic. Stone makes flying upon a paper airplane, nestled in its folds appear an actuality rather than a fantasy.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* New York Public Library 100 Titles for Reading and Sharing
* BOOKLIST REVIEW: “This homage to reading salutes all the essential elements: letters, words, books. Lewis' poetry is continually clever.”
* PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: “Like Lewis' previous witty verse, the poems brim with wordplay.”
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “The tone is generally light, with the last few entries turning more to wonder and metaphor. Usually printed one per spread, the poems are accompanied by richly dark artwork. The Lewis hallmarks are all here–clever wordplay, humor, nonsense, rhyme.”

CONNECTIONS
* Read and view the acrostic poem, Necessary Gardens, in the book. Discuss its form and style. Have students create their own acrostic poem, choosing their favorite person, place, or thing as the subject.
* Encourage creative thinking and word play by asking students to rename familiar books like Lewis has done in What If Books Had Different Names?.
* Choose a poem from the book to read to students and have them illustrate the poem. After they’ve drawn their interpretation, share the book’s illustration. Please Bury Me in the Library or Eating Alphabet Soup might work well for this exercise.
*Other poetry picture books & poetry collections about books, libraries, and bibliophiles:
1) Hopkins, Lee Bennett (compiler). GOOD BOOKS, GOOD TIMES. ISBN 0064462226
2) Hopkins, Lee Bennett (compiler). WONDERFUL WORDS. ISBN 0689835884
3) Stewart, Sarah. THE LIBRARY. ISBN 0374343888
4) Sierra, Judy. WILD ABOUT BOOKS. ISBN 0375925384

POETRY - Witness

BIBLIOGRAPHY
Hesse, Karen. 2001. WITNESS. New York: Scholastic Press. ISBN 0439271991

PLOT SUMMARY
In Witness, Hesse chronicles the rise and fall of the Ku Klux Klan in a small Vermont town in the mid 1920s. Set against a historically accurate backdrop, the author uses a series of personal narratives written in free verse form to tell the story. Eleven different characters give voice to the troubling events that wrench the town apart before pulling it together again. The novel opens with offerings by the two youngest characters, Leonora Sutter and Esther Hirsch. Leonora is a twelve year old African-American girl who is one of the story’s victims; however, her brazen attitude and wry demeanor help her persevere. Esther, who is Jewish, is also an innocent victim of tragic circumstances that unravel through the course of the telling. These two voices guide the reader through a large portion of the story, but they are supplemented by narratives from the town’s progressive doctor, the constable, several business people, a newspaper editor, a staunch clergyman, and a headstrong female farmer. The differing viewpoints provided by each of these characters span the gamut from hatred and intolerance to wary suspicion to downright abhorrence at the ignorance reflected in Klan activities. The result of Hesse’s efforts is a powerful and moving account guaranteed to leave the reader with quiet musings concerning their own personal beliefs and actions.

CRITICAL ANALYSIS
The precision and truth reflected in the historical aspects of this book are astonishing. Hesse incorporates real people and real events which provide a sense of legitimacy to the story. References to Senator Greene, John Philip Sousa, Miriam Ferguson, Prohibition, the Great War, and the Leopold and Loeb case all help set the stage for the story. Another distinctive feature that helps the reader transition through time to 1924 is the page of antique black and white photographs depicting each character in the book. The use of these photographs makes a unique contribution to the voice of each character, lending a face to the soliloquies.

Hesse’s imagery is a constant and commanding presence throughout the book. This gift makes itself apparent from the very beginning when Hesse describes Leonora as “. . . . .a wild brown island”. The very essence of hatred is depicted through a description of a huge Klan cross set ablaze atop a hillside: “in a matter of / minutes the cross arm / pulsed with fire. the / flames leaping, / seeking heaven, / neighbor, the white / crucifix scoring / the night / blazed perfect”. An excellent compliment to the imagery is the ease with which the rhythmic free verse flows.

Aside from the extraordinary imagery, the social commentary provided is also remarkable. As the townspeople stand witness to the hideous acts carried out by the Klan, they come to see the organization as having a deceptive authority which is causing society to slide backward toward the dark ages. Reynard Alexander, the town’s newspaper editor, sums up the wrenching effects of Klan activity by saying, “it has worked its / fingers through the fabric of the state / and if we do not mend the rents soon, / we’ll fall to pieces”.

All told, Hesse manages to touch on some very weighty issues such as prejudice, discrimination, and manipulation. However, it is her treatment of these issues and the dynamic nature of the characters that makes the novel so compelling. Because the townspeople are changed, the reader, too, is changed.

REVIEW EXCERPTS
* ALA Notable Children’s Book
* School Library Journal Best Book of the Year - 2001
* Winner of the Christopher Award - 2002
* PUBLISHERS WEEKLY REVIEW: “Eleven narrative voices chronicle actual events occurring in a sleepy Vermont town after the arrival of the Ku Klux Klan in 1924. This lyrical novel powerfully records waves of change and offers insightful glimpses into the hearts of victims, their friends and their enemies.”
* SCHOOL LIBRARY JOURNAL REVIEW: “The small details seem just right and demonstrate that this is much more than a social tract. It's a thoughtful look at people and their capacity for love and hate.”

CONNECTIONS
* After reading and discussing various narratives from the book, have students incorporate these narratives into reader’s theatre performances.
* Choose a few passages from the book that are particularly full of imagery and challenge students to illustrate those passages (ie: “in that dark and narrow place, / i opened a hole for myself / but no matter how i turned, / the light from the cross / curled its bright claws under the door.").
* Discuss the meaning of prejudice and its root in differences among people. Have students identify various diverse aspects among people that may result in prejudice. Brainstorm ways to combat prejudice in society.
*Other books for young people with themes on differences and/or prejudice:
1) Taylor, Mildred. THE LAND. ISBN 0803719515
2) Uchida, Yoshiko. JOURNEY HOME. ISBN 0689716419
3) Voigt, Cynthia. IZZY, WILLY-NILLY. ISBN 0689804466
4) Woodson, Jacqueline. FROM THE NOTEBOOKS OF MELANIN SUN. ISBN 0590458817